Down with DOMA at U.S. Supreme Court, ducking on same-sex marriage

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld federal benefits for same-sex couples, but ducked on same-sex marriage in California. The first is a reason for celebration. The second was a dodge.

I’ve been watching Pride flags go up all over Capitol Hill for the past month. It’s a relief that Washington state forged ahead in legalizing same-sex marriage with Referendum 74 last year, rather than wait for permission from federal legislators or judges.

According to the Associated Press story, the Supreme Court ruled that defenders of the California ban on same-sex marriage, aka Proposition 8, did not have the right to appeal lower-court rulings that deemed the ban unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court justices did not rule on the constitutionality of the ban. Our editorial board will be looking over the opinions of the court, and expect an editorial from us later today.

Our editorial board began its crusade to grant rights to same-sex couples in 2000, and we launched a social-media campaign last fall to approve same-sex marriage in Washington state with Ref. 74. Here are the photos readers shared with us via Instagram, Twitter and email.

And get ready for Pride weekend.

Update 11:52 a.m.

Check out this interactive graphic on the Supreme Court ruling from the Associated Press.